Submersible vibrator



Feb. 28, 1939. .R w. BAM 2,148,722

SUBMERS IBLE VIBRATOR Filed Oct. l5,v 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SUBMERSIBLE VIBRATOR Robert William Baily, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 15,

15 Claims.

One object of my present invention is to provide a vibrator mechanism which has particular though not exclusive use for the compacting of unset concrete, the mechanism being immersed or submerged in a mass of concrete during its deposit and being comparatively simple and durable to manufacture.

A further object is to provide means for resiliently supporting a motor Within a housing or 0 immediately adjacent thereto, the housing being submersible in a mass of vibratable material and having therein a vibrator means operatively connected with the motor, the means of connection being of flexible character to prevent the transmission of destructive vibrations from the vibrator means to the motor which operates it.

Still a further object is to provide means for conducting actuating fluid to the motor and conducting spent uid away from the motor to prevent contamination oi the material being vibrated.

Another object is to provide means for cooling the motor if it is, for instance, of the electric type, f and to provide means for manipulating and guiding the vibrator housing, preferably in the form of a flexible elongated tube-like handle, the cooling uid for the motor and the spent fluid therefrom being conductible through said handle if desired.

Still a further object is to provide means for so supporting the bearings carrying the vibrator means, which may consist of an out-of-balance weight, that the bearings will not be subject to injury due to distortion of the vibrator housing.

A further object is to provide vibration damping means between the motor and the vibrator housing.

Another object is to provide such a device having housing sections for the motor and vibrating rotor respectively and vibration damping means interposed between such sections.

With these and other objects inview my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an outside elevation of a submersible vibrator embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 showing internal details of construction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line .3-3 of Figure 2 showing a compressed air 55 operated type of motor.

1934, Serial N0. 748,384

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing details of the vibrator element.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the vibrator element and a flexible connecting means for oper- 5 atively connecting it with the shaft of the motor.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified construction in which a separate casing is provided for the motor instead of the motor being enclosed in the vibrator housing as in Figl0 ure 2.

Figure 'l is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1 1 of Figure 6 illustrating ventilation exhaust openings for the motor. r

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view on theline 15 8-8 of Figure 6 showing Ventilating intake open ings and a Ventilating blower; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to portions of Figures 2 and 6 showing a modified conduit arrangement.

' It is desirable in a submersible type of vibrator that the actuating motor be closely associated with the vibrator element in the vibrator housing, or at least arranged in a casing immediately connected with the housing, but as heretofore con- 25 structed, mechanism of this character has involved the energetic vibration of the motor casing and motor parts, which for obvious reasons is undesirable and frequently results in such injury to the motor as to put it out of commission. In other types of vibrators, long flexible drive shafts in flexible casings are employed to transmit the power from the motor to the vibrator. The vibration of the vibrator puts such long exible shafts under jolting strains which soon cause them to break down. Flexible shafts of this character, especially in long sizes, are quite expensive.

Also, when the vibrator housing is of large diameter and comparatively thin in shell thickness, the vibrator means, especially if it is an outof-balance weight, is sustained by bearings carried by the large diameter casing and the required large diameter lof such bearings is out of proportion to their working duty, causing excessive losses of power by friction. In addition, such large diameter tubes or housings are liable tobe dis-- torted either by bending of the housing or` by flattening thereof due to impact with external obj ects resulting in destruction of the bearings.

In addition, it is desirable in some instances to house the motor within the vibrator housing in order to avoid the use of the long exible shaftingmentioned, which shafting has a very short operating life, due especially to the vibrations imparted to it by the vibrator means.

Where it is more desirable to locate the motor outside the vibrator housing, it then becomes desirable to place the motor immediately adjacent the housing and approximately in line therewith, connecting the motor casing and the vibrator housing together in a manner to maintain their approximate alignment, but also to prevent the transmission of destructive vibrations from the vibrator to the motor, the pre ferred construction involving a short exible connection between the motor shaft and the shaft of the vibrator element.

It is also necessary to provide means for manipulating and guiding the vibrator and when the motor is driven by means other than electricity, to convey the uid used for power to the motor and convey the spent iiuid away from the motor, in order that such spent iiuid may not contaminate the material being vibrated.

I provide a vibrator having the desirable characteristics above outlined and which I will now describe.

On the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral l0 indicates a vibrator housing. It is preferably elongated and tubular in shape, having its lower end closed.

I provide a handle I2 for manipulating the housing I0 and it is preferably a iexible tube such as a rubber hose.

In the outer end of the handle I2, a sleeve-like tting I0 is provided having exhaust openings I6. The opposite end of the handle l2 is received within a boss 20 of a removable head I8 for the upper end of the housing I0. A tapered retainer sleeve 22 may be provided for retaining the hoselike handle assembled relative to the boss.

Within the housing l0, I provide ,a motor casing 20 having a head 26 of tubular construction with which is connected a fluid reception. tting 28. A fluid supply hose 30 is connected with the fitting 28 and extends through the hose I2 and the sleeve ill to a fitting 32 swivelly associated with the fitting i0. A uid supply hose 36 is connected with a strainer 3&1 and the strainer is connected with the fitting 32 for supplying fluid pressure from the hose 36 to the hose 30'. A suitable control valve for the actuating iiuid can be provided in the hose 36 or anywhere in the line between this hose and the hose 30 as found desirable.

The motor casing 24 has its ends supported in collars 38 and 39 which in turn are supported by resilient rings 40 of rubber or the lilse. The upper ring 40 contacts with the head I8, while the lower one contacts with a washer 0| to prevent longitudinal movement of the rings relative to the housing II).

Within the motor casing 24, I provide a rotor 42 secured to a motor shaft d4. The shaft is supported in bearings 46 which in turn are supported by the casing 24. A ange 48 is connected with the lower end of the rotor or motor shaft 44 and has a blade 48 extending downwardly therefrom. This blade is notched as indicated at 49a. The blade 49-ts slidably in an intermediate member 50 having a notch 52 to receive the blade. The member 50 also has a notch 54 arranged crosswise of the notch 52.

The notch 54 is adapted to receive a blade 56 of a plate 58. The plate 58 has a vibrator rotor 60 secured thereto as by screws 59. The rotor 60 has a notch cut in one side thereof and indicated at 62, leaving the other side indicated at 64 solid. The central portion of the rotor 60 is tubular. while the lower portion is an extension of the tubular center portion with a notch 65 cut therein. A weight 66 is secured in the rotor 60' by any suitable means such as screws 68.

lWithin the tubular center portion of the rotor 60, bearings 'I0 are mounted, these being retained by the weight 66. The bearings I0 are supported on a stub shaft or spindle I2 extending upwardly from the lower end of the housing I 0. The spindle 'I2 terminates in an extension 14.

A washer 'I8 is mounted against a shoulder 80 within the stub shaft 12 (the stub shaft being tubular in cross section) and a clamp bolt 02 extends through the washer I8 and terminates in an enlarged head I6 which engages the upper r bearing l0. A retainer nut 83 is mounted on the clamp bolt against the washer 'I8 and is enclosed by a plug 84 screwed into the lower end of the housing I0.

The rotor l2 has vane slots 86 therein in which are slidably mounted vanes 88. The outer ends of the vanes 88 are adapted to contact with a stator 90 mounted eccentrically relative to the rotor d2. An intake passageway 92 extends from the head 26 which receives actuating fluid from the hose 30 and discharges through intake ports 92 into the stator 90'. The actuating fluid, preferably air under pressure, causes clockwise rotation of the rotor l2 and the spent fluid is exhausted through ports 92 into a space 98 of the motor casing 2d. Exhaust openings 99 discharge the spent fluid from the motor casing into the space |00 of the housing I0, from which space it is exhausted through ports |02 to within the head I8.

The yexhaust fluid then flows outwardly between the exterior and interior Walls of the hoses 30 and I2 and finally exhausts to atmosphere through the exhaust openings I6 of the fitting Il. Thus this air is disposed of without being discharged into the material being vibrated.

In Figure 6, I have illustrated an electric motor rather than a pneumatic motor and have shown the motor in a casing |03 which is separate from the vibrator housing indicated at |24. The vibrating means within the housing |24 is similar to the means already described, although in both forms of the invention, a bearing fr each end of the vibrator element instead of'a single spindlelike bearing can be provided. Such a double bearing arrangement is illustrated in my Patent No. 1,876,271, issued September 6, 1932.

Within the casing |03, I provide a motor housing |04 which can be integrally formed relative to the casing or made separate and suitably inserted thereinr as foundl desirable. Within the housing I 04, stator windings |06 are illustrated, while the reference numeral |08 indicates 4an electric motor rotor. The rotor |08 is secured to a shaft IIO mounted in bearings II2 and II4. The bearing |I2 is carried by a separable head member -I I3 for the housing |04, while the bearing II4 is carried by the housing itself. The low er end of the shaft IIO is connected with the rotor |50v as already described in connection with space between the hoses 30 and I2 to outside I atmosphere. Instead of compressed air being admitted to the hose 30, this hose merely draws in air from atmosphere.

The upper end of the housing |04 may be steadied relative to the casing |03 by Yspoke-like projections |22. Electric supply wires |23 for the motor may conveniently extend through the hose or handle I2 to the motor.

The housing |24 is supported relative to the casing |03 by a iiexible connection such as a resilient sleeve |26. Retainer nuts |28 and |30' are associated with the casing |03 and the hous ing |24 respectively and with flanges on the ends of the connecting element |26 to assemble the parts relative to each other.

Instead of a handle consisting of a hose Within a hose, two separate hoses may extend to the mechanism as illustrated in Figure 9.. In this figure, the head I8 is illustrated as having a boss 20o; provided with a pair of openings into one of which an exhaust hose |2a extends and is re tained by a retainer 22a and through the other one of which the intake hose 30a extends. The hose 30a is then bent within the head I8 to engage the boss ||3a of the head ||3 if. the electric motor of Figure 6 is utilized, or the fitting 28 if the pneumatic motor of Figure 2 is utilized.

Practical operation In the operation of my vibrator, the housing ||0 is partially or completely submerged in a vibratable material, using the handle 30 for manipulating it. "With the type of mechanism shown in Figure 6, the housing |24 and the casing |03 can be submerged or only the housing |24 can be submerged if desired. The material with which my device is usually used consists of fresh unset concrete or other plastic material and when the-motor shafts. 44 or I0 are rotated, they rapidly rotate the out-of-balance vibrator element 60 which causes the vibrator housing l0 or |24 to oscillate, thereby imparting pulsations to the concrete, causing it to become additionally plastic and to thereby flow into the desired posi-v tion, while at the same time the entrapped air and surplus water is expelled from the mass.

By means of the flexible connection between they motor and the vibrator element and between the motor and the vibrator housing, destructive vibrations are not transmitted from the vibrator housing to the motor. At the same time, the axes of the motor and vibrator element are maintained in operating alignment, variations from true alignment being limited only by the capabilities of the flexible shaft, casing and housing couplings.

Where the motor is supported within the vibrator housing as in Figure 2,the rings 40 prevent the housing vibrations from being transmitted in any marked degree to the motor, while with the construction of Figure 6, the flexible connection |26 'prevents Vibrations of the housing |24 from being transmitted to the casing |03 and thence to themotor.

With either form of the invention, the flexible handle l2 may be utilized by the workman for holding the'vibrator suspended at any desired depth in the concrete and for moving the vibrator laterally through the concrete to desired positions. This handle can be quite long and provided in sections if desired 'so that theyvi-v brator may be lowered a considerable distance below the position of the operator as in deep wall forms and the like. The handle also forms a convenient means for conveying actuating fluid to or from the motor or as a suitable enclosure for handle.

a supply hose, while at the same time acting as a conduit for exhaust iiuid.

By providing the bearing for the Vibrator element in the form of a single stud, distortions of the housing I0 cannot throw the bearing out of alignment as when separate bearings are provided for opposite ends of. the Vibrator element and each is supported by the housing.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have provided av unitary vibrating mechanism easily manipulatable with the aid of the handle I2 and to which actuating fluid is conveniently supplied through the medium of the All destructive vibrations as ordinarily transmitted from the vibrator element to the motor are reduced to a minimum by the specific constructions illustrated.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my vibrator without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. Vibratory mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be at least partially immersed in a mass to be vibrated, a rotor having its centre of mass disposed eccentrically to its axis of rotation and located within said housing, a motor therefor also located Within said housing, a flexible driving connection between said motor and Said rotor and a flexible connection adapted to deaden vibratory motion interposed between a Vibratory portion of said housing and said motor.

2. Vibratory mechanism comprising in combination, a housing adaped to be immersed at least partially in a mass to be vibrated, means for vibrating said housing, a motor flexibly associated with said housing, a flexible coupling between said motor and the means for vibrating said housing and a flexible handle for manipulating said motor and said vibrating means.

3. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibrator housing adapted to be submerged at least partially in a mass of vibratable material, vibratory means therein, power operated means therefor, flexible connections between said power operated means and said vibrator housing and between said power operated means and said vibratory means and a flexible handle for manipulating the foregoing elements in said mass of vibratable material.

4. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibrator housing adapted to be submerged at least partially in a mass ofv vibratable material, vibratory means therein, power operated means therefor, flexible connections between said power .operated means and said vibrator housing and between said power operated means and said vibratory means, a flexible handle forV manipulating the foregoing elements in said mass of vibratable material :and means extending through said handle for supplying power to said power operated means.

5. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibrator housing adapted to be submerged at least partially in a mass of vibratable material, vibratory means therein, power means therefor, flexible connections between said power means and said vibrator housing and between said power means and said vibratory means, a flexible handle through said handle for 'supplying actuating uid brator housing, Vibratory means therein, power operated means therefor, exible connections between said power operated means and said vibrator housing and between said power operated means and said Vibratory means, means for circulating air through said power operated means to cool it and a pair of conduits for such air.

8. In a vibrator of the class described, a housing adapted to 'be submerged at least partially in a mass of vibratable material, Vibratory means therein, power operated means also therein and resiliently mounted relative thereto and a flexible connection between said power operated means and said Vibratory means.

9. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibra-= tor housing, Vibratory means therein, power operated means therefor, iiexible connections between said power operated means and said vibrator housing and between said power operated means and said Vibratory means and a flexible handle for manipulating the foregoing elements in a mass of vibratable material and for conducting an actuating fluid to said power operated means.

10. Vibratory mechanism comprising in combination a housing adapted to be inserted at least partially in a mass to be vibrated, an out-oi-balance weight rotatably mounted in said housing, a prime mover, a hollow flexible connection supporting means for said housing extending from said prime mover to said housing and soarranged that the housing may be manipulated by means of said flexible connection, a flexible driving means connecting said prime mover to said rotor and carried within said hollow flexible connection, said hollow iiexible connection and said ilexible driving means being so arranged as to permit angular or lateral displacement or both of the axis of said rotor with relation to the axis of said prime mover.

11. In a submersible housing, means adapted to be submerged at least partially in a mass to be vibrated, a Vibratory rotor in one part of the housing, a pneumatic motor in another part of the housing adapted to discharge into the housing, the device having means to carry the exhaust fluid away, a iexible driving means between the motor and the rotor, and a resilient V connection, between the motor and the rotor forming a tight joint between that part of the housing means amar/22 which contains the rotor and that part which contains the motor, said connection forming a means through which the driving means between the motor and rotor extends. 1

12. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibrator housing adapted to b'e submerged at least par-A tially in a mass of vibratable material, Vibratory means in the housing, a casing connected with the housing, power operated means in the casing, a exible connection between the powerY operated means and the Vibratory means, and a flexible connection between the power operated means and its casing.

13. Vibratory mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be immersed at least partially in a mass to be vibrated, a rotor in the housing having its center of mass disposed eccentrically to its axis of rotation, a fluid operated motor in the housing operatively connected with the rotor, a

-iiexible hose-like handle secured to said housing and opening thereinto, a flexible fluid conduit connected to the motor and extending through said hose-like handle, the interior diameter of the handle being greater than the exterior diameter of the conduit to aord passage from the interior of the housing to the outer end of the handle for exhaust from the motor, the conduit and the handle being provided at the outer end of the handle with a swivel connection whereby they are relatively rotatable.

14. Vibratory mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be immersed at least partially in a mass to be. vibrated, a vibration creating device in said housing, a motor in the housing to actuate said device, a hollow handle attached to said housing and opening thereinto, a fluid conveying conduit extending through said handle, and connected to said motor, said conduit having such outer dimension that a measurable space exists between the outer circumference of said conduit and the inner circumference of said handle, providing a passage for exhaust fluid from said motor, and tting means connecting the outer .end of the handle with the conduit, said fitting `means having an opening for the egress of fluid from the handle and having swivel elements, whereby the conduit may rotate in the handle.

15. In a vibrator of the class described, a vibrator housing adapted to be at least partially immersed in a mass of vibratable material, vibratory means in said housing, a casing with a connection to said housing, said connection formed to maintain the axis of said housing in substantial alignment with the axis of said casing, power operated means in said casing, power transmission means connecting said power operated means and said Vibratory means within said connection, said connection damping the transmission of destructive vibrations from said housing to said casing.

ROBERT WILLIAM BAILY. 

